Stephen Hayes @ The Weekly Standard:
For nine days, the Obama administration made a case that virtually everyone understood was untrue: that the killing of our ambassador and three other Americans in Benghazi, Libya, was a random, spontaneous act of individuals upset about an online video—an unpredictable attack on a well-protected compound that had nothing do to with the eleventh anniversary of 9/11.
These claims were wrong. Every one of them. But the White House pushed them hard.
Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, appeared on five Sunday talk shows on September 16. A “hateful video” triggered a “spontaneous protest . . . outside of our consulate in Benghazi” that “spun from there into something much, much more violent,” she said on Face the Nation. “We do not have information at present that leads us to conclude that this was premeditated or preplanned.”
On This Week, Rice said the consulate was well secured. “The security personnel that the State Department thought were required were in place,” she said, adding: “We had substantial presence with our personnel and the consulate in Benghazi. Tragically two of the four Americans who were killed were there providing security. That was their function, and indeed there were many other colleagues who were doing the same with them.”
White House press secretary Jay Carney not only denied that the attacks had anything to do with the anniversary of 9/11 but scolded reporters who, citing the administration’s own pre-9/11 boasts about its security preparations for the anniversary, made the connection. “I think that you’re conveniently conflating two things,” Carney snapped, “which is the anniversary of 9/11 and the incidents that took place, which are under investigation.”
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Intelligence officials understood immediately that the attacks took place on 9/11 for a reason. The ambassador, in a country that faces a growing al Qaeda threat, had virtually no security. The two contractors killed in the attacks were not part of the ambassador’s security detail, and there were not, in fact, “many other colleagues” working security with them.
The nature of the attack itself, a four-hour battle that took place in two waves, indicated some level of planning. “The idea that this criminal and cowardly act was a spontaneous protest that just spun out of control is completely unfounded and preposterous,” Libyan president Mohammad el-Megarif told National Public Radio. When a reporter asked Senator Carl Levin, one of the most partisan Democrats in the upper chamber, if the attack was planned, Levin said it was. “I think there’s evidence of that. There’s been evidence of that,” he responded, adding: “The attack looked like it was planned and premeditated, sure.” Levin made his comments after a briefing from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, agreed. “This was not just a mob that got out of hand. Mobs don’t come in and attack, guns blazing. I think that there is a growing consensus it was preplanned.” And according to CNN, Undersecretary of State Patrick Kennedy “has said that the attack appeared to be planned because it was so extensive and because of the ‘proliferation’ of small and medium weapons at the scene.” Not only was the attack planned, it appears there was no protest at all. Citing eyewitnesses, CBS News reported late last week: “There was never an anti-American protest outside the consulate.”
So we are left with this: Four Americans were killed in a premeditated terrorist attack on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11, and for more than a week the Obama administration misled the country about what happened.
This isn’t just a problem. It’s a scandal.
remember in obama’s own autobiography he stated that if the ill winds blew, he would side with muslims and he has, every single time
Curt,
I think the media wold rather focus on Romney’s Libya statement than draw into focus Hayes’ points.
Right now though, they’re still busy drawing out more mileage on the 47% comment. Of course that means ignoring what President Obama’s policies- not rhetoric- have been doing for the 100%.
@Enchanted:
Isn’t this spinning the context of what he actually meant into what you want to believe he meant? And even so, how does this even apply here, given President Obama’s not very popular in the Muslim world for the very fact that he still perpetuates, in his own manner, U.S. foreign policy including such things as the killing of Muslims (re: Predator drone attacks)?
@Wordsmith:
Those are not the exact words, but he did state he would side – and he did use those words- however. You have to remember obama is a narcissist. he believes that everyone would/should love him and IMHO thought that if he paid homage to those in power that are muslim, he would be accepted as one of them. However, IMHO again they just see him as a weak ‘leader’ and they have no respect . Regardless what is stated in his own autobiography (and heaven only knows who really wrote it), obama has shown that he has sided with the muslims, each and every time.
His actions do not prove to me that he has the United States at heart and has definitely violated his oath of office to protect and defend the United States Constititution et al. There is nothing that can prove he has done otherwise.
-and as an side while I am on a roll. I work with a gentlemen who was born and raised in a socialist country. He is now an American citizen and will vote this year for Romney. He told me the people who are touting socialism have no idea how horrific it is for both the country and the people. I pray to God that we in the United States will never find out.
Obama didn’t mislead the country. He lied to it.
@another vet: It would be much more shocking if he told the truth. His lies are expected.
Common Sense@#5 – Yes, you are right!! And that is truly disheartening …how can ‘anyone’ ever put TRUST in anything that man says?? Why I dub him the spin doctor… or lyin’ you know what!!
I think if he told the truth you would hear everyone gasp and clench their hand over their mouths….
I keep saying Rep Joe Wilson was right!!! He is a far better judge of character and had great courage to say what he said – You Lie!!! to the Won – but Joe was Right!!!!!